Crewe Alex: 'I’ll pick a team to win cup tie' - David Artell

Crewe Alex striker Jordan Bowery continued his comeback from injury by playing 80 minutes against Whitchurch. Now the striker could be in the frame to face Bolton. (Image: Kevin Warburton, www.kevinspictures.co.uk)

The manager would not reveal whether he would make changes to his team for the cup tie, but was adamant the Railwaymen would be going all out to earn a place in round two.

With prize money on offer and another home game against Newport County looming on Saturday, Artell says it is important to build on the opening day draw with Mansfield.

“Our primary focus is always the league but a cup run would boost confidence, it would be good financially – there are no negatives to having a good cup run,” he said.

“I’ll always pick a team to win, it’s as simple as that. Prize money on it, points on it, doesn’t make any difference to me.

“Losing is a habit and winning is a habit, and we’re unbeaten at the minute. After the Bolton game it needs to be two (unbeaten). Saturday needs to be three. Then four. Then five.

“It doesn’t matter what competition, we’d suddenly be five unbeaten. That momentum is hard to stop. That’s the aim.

“We have to make sure we beat whatever team is put in front of us, and that just happens to be Bolton.

“We have to stand up to whatever they throw at us. They’ve got a long throw, good deliveries and will have good quality.”

With a compact squad and some injury doubts rotation options are limited for Artell anyway.

George Ray will undergo a scan today to learn whether the stress fracture in his back has healed and he can return to full training.

Striker Jordan Bowery played 80 minutes of a 4-1 win for Crewe under 23s over Whitchurch Alport on Monday night – when the goals were scored by Owen Dale, Harry Pickering, Josh Lundstra, and an own-goal – and will now be assessed for any adverse reaction by club medics.

Midfielder James Jones, who like Bowery underwent surgery on a hernia last month, is further off action and unlikely to feature against Bolton or Newport.

Artell’s opposite number Phil Parkinson, who guided the Trotters to the Championship last term, made it clear he would be making changes after Bolton’s 3-2 loss to Leeds United on Sunday.

Tickets to the game are £10 for adults, £8 for over 60s and £4 for under 16s.